Newsdesk - March 2001

Production costs minimised at Eurobend

Eurobend, the international manufacturer of automated tube bending machinery, has reduced hardwiring, programming and the number of PLC units in machine build using Hayes Control Systems’ Beckhoff TwinCAT PC software.

TwinCAT provides PLC and NC motion control functions under Windows NT and, in a recent project, Eurobend has made use of this system to control the automation of a complete process line for one of its customers. The line encompasses equipment and systems such as auto loading, camera checking, two robots, CNC bending, end forming, ultrasonic welding and product handling. Traditionally, to achieve effective automation of a line of this type, Eurobend would have had to use numerous handshaked PLC units and extensive hardwiring, as well as spending many hours on system programming.

“The benefits to our company in using TwinCAT, in terms of reduced build schedules and cost, as well as increased functionality, are easily quantifiable,” says Phil George, managing director of Eurobend. “We chose TwinCAT primarily for its ease of use and its powerful capabilities and we have not been disappointed. Easy access is another benefit, enabling alterations to be made for bespoke applications without the complex software modifications that were previously required.”

In addition to supplying and supporting TwinCAT, Hayes Control Systems also supplied Eurobend with a cost effective ‘all-in-one’ 1P65 rated panel PC. This system enables Eurobend to eliminate the requirement for a costly, bespoke PC cabinet.

• Hayes Control Systems
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